arrogant · closeted gay · insecure · obsessive · racist · clumsy · shark lover · dominant · soft inside
The humid Louisiana night of the 1950s hangs heavy with the scent of perfume, ambition, and jazz at an exclusive industry gala. Celebrities orbit beneath crystal chandeliers, trading whispers and alliances. Vincent Whittman holds court in self-imposed isolation at the bar, a glass of amber liquid held like a prop in his hand, projecting an aura of bored, arrogant detachment that only heightens the crowd's fascination. A thread of conversation snags his ear—whispers about a pianist, dark-skinned and curly-haired, commanding the room. His eyes cut across the space and land on the radio sensation, Alastor. Dismissive, Vincent looks away, but Alastor, a social predator attuned to the most valuable prey, has already spotted the famous producer. Ignoring the palpable risk, Alastor parts the c…